Sept 2008 tables need repainting

From AAS Observatory Wiki

Status: In progress

Tom Campbell
Aug 12, 2008

I did a quick look at the observing tables. Still have about 6 that need some serious work. A larger number could use a touch up on the edges. Due to the price of gas, I'll start gearing up to do this when the weather gets a little cooler and on public star party nights.

Jeff Phillips
Sept 22, 2008

Any plans for a table painting party before CTSP? I noticed several of the blue tops are peeling, and most are pretty chalky. I have an airless sprayer (a real compressor/sprayer would be better) if someone else has a sandblaster. We could make quick work of it with the right tools.

Todd Hargis
Sept 22, 2008

That is pushing the time limit I would think. I have not had a problem with them since my books and eyepieces are in cases. I think many members use a blanket or towl on them anyway. If sanding is involved then it will take a long time to prepare them. Maybe do a couple.

Tom Campbell
Sept 23, 2008

A large number of the lower field tables and other things were repainted last summer (it was Mark, Jack and myself). There is a little bit of touch up needed on those. Instead of sanding, we used a sander/deglosser. The tables at the top of the field appear to be peeling due to a failure of the primer coat and should be scraped or sanded. I don't think a sander/deglosser will work. There is a lot of work to be done.

I have a compressor and a spray gun but do not have a spray tank. I also do not have any experience using the spray gun. I don't even want to think about the electrical capacity to run the compressor......

I would like to suggest that we create an adopt-a-table which would allow members to take on an individual table which would be available for their exclusive use for one year during members star partys...if they wish. A group of tables along the entrance path would be "first come, first serve".

Tim Brown
Sept 23, 2008

I’m painting challenged, but if I can get a few pointers I’ll be glad to help. The earliest possible date for me (business trips) will be in mid-October. Let me know I you’d like some help then.

Tom Campbell
Sept 23, 2008

I is a daunting task to think about repainting tables. The work we did 2 years ago is peeling away. I threw the idea out because it might help to get some volunteers out there to take care of the problem. Some folks are motivated to participate if there is a clear payoff for them. I was thinking primarily about the lower field.

It is my observation that we have a small core of members that are willing to do this kind of work. Incentives help. None the less, clearly I will continue to be one of those volunteers that attempts to maintain COE.

Mark Johnston
Sept 24, 2008

Green would be good and blend in with the green surroundings in spring and summer and give color in the fall and winter.

Jack Estes
Sept 24, 2008

Sign me up for the work party (hopefully when it gets cooler). I've helped paint tables at COE on 2 or 3 different occasions. I've never done the sanding though.

Mark Florian
Sept 28, 2008

1. There is a difference between 'vertical' paint and 'horizontal' paint. House paint is meant for vertical, not horizontal, surfaces. Flooring & deck paint is meant for horizontal surfaces, where water will pool and sun will beat on it. Plus, it's designed to be walked on and thus, durable.

2. It's not wise to use an interior or general primer, like Kilz, on an exterior surface. It wasn't designed for it. Whatever paint/finish you decide on, always use a primer made by the same manufacturer.

3. If you paint one side, you have to paint the other. The tables ought to be removed from the stands so that both sides can be painted. Otherwise the paint/finish will peel or blister after a few years because of moisture.

4. Particular attention needs to be paid to sealing up the edges to prevent moisture from wicking in.

5. In our climate, it's a bad idea to use oil-based paint on any wooden exterior surface: Mold loves it.

Tom Campbell
Sept 28, 2008

Table painting: We need to decide on the type of paint we want to use on the upper field tables. I really like Mark's idea of using a green color. My guess is that the tables were painted with an oil based paint in the distant past. Does anyone remember?

As far as organizing a painting party, if we as a group decide to do it this fall, we have a window of about 2 months where the temperature will be high enough for the paint to cure properly. It may be time to think about organizing this as a spring event.

Jack Estes
Sept 28, 2008

All of the tables have been painted twice in the past. I think the first time we used Marine paint. David Sands would know. Last time I think Darin Koch bought the paint so he would know that answer. I like the idea of green also.

Tom Campbell
Sept 28, 2008

I sort of like the idea of a marine polyurethane paint. It is very expensive however....

Phil Schmidt
May 20, 2009

Here’s a way to ward off boredom during those interminable daylight hours at CTSP. The paint on many of the observing tables is in terrible shape, so bring a scraper and some sandpaper out with you and spend an hour “adopting” your table. It burns calories too, so you can have an extra beer and eat more BBQ.

Phil Schmidt
May 20, 2009

The biggest challenge in getting these tables in shape is scraping and sanding. On many of them, the paint is literally standing up like so many soldiers at attention, so they couldn’t possibly be any more vulnerable to the weather than they already are. They don’t need to be repainted immediately. ....I’m assuming that if we get the old paint off, they’ll be OK for a couple of weeks until we can get out and repaint them (the easy part).

Jeff Phillips
May 20, 2009

Great idea Phil. What about brushes, rollers, etc.? I assume the blue paint is already there?

Jack Estes
May 20, 2009

One fly in the ointment, the paint won't be dry by the time folks need the tables at nightfall. Also many of the tables will already be covered with member's equipment in the daytime and they won't want wet paint anywhere near. Good idea, won't work

Bill Tschummy
May 20, 2009

I would really prefer not to have paint dust floating in the air around my equipment that will be set up. Scraping is one thing, sanding is another. I vote to do this some other time.

Danielle Plumer
May 20, 2009

I agree with Bill's objection with regards to dust. In fact, I'd go further and suggest that if folks do go ahead and scrape, that they use dropcloths or something to contain the paint chips so that they can be disposed of afterward. We did something similar to the proposed scraping for a dog agility group I used to be a member of, and our field was covered in paint chips for months afterward. Can't be good for the environment.

I'm not against the project; in fact, I'd gladly dedicate a morning to it some weekend. We just need to be cautious.

Mickey McInnis
May 20, 2009

The observatory is not old enough for there to be any lead paint involved. The materials remaining in the paint are probably rather benign from an environmental point of view. The only semi-nasty stuff is probably the volatile compounds in wet paint or released as the paint dries. All the same, I wouldn't recommend eating any paint chips, breathing dust, or getting any of it into your food.

The plywood that the table tops are made of is probably a more significant environmental concern. Some of the pressure treated/marine/ rotproof stuff is nasty. It's probably mostly a concern when it's new and still wet, but I would be careful not to breathe or otherwise ingest any wood dust from sawing or sanding even old pressure treated wood.

Wash your hands any time you cut or sand pressure treated wood or handle the brand new still wet stuff.

Harden Schaeffer
May 20, 2009

I think the chief cause for concern here is that paint chips add very little to the beauty of the environment.

Pending...